Points system not rewarding drivers

Were Tom Fox’s efforts justly rewarded last Saturday night at the Waterford Speedbowl?

Peter Vander Veer

Were Tom Fox’s efforts justly rewarded last Saturday night at the Waterford Speedbowl?

Fox drove what he later described as “maybe the best race of my career” in beating Dennis Gada in the 35-lap feature.

When an inside move came up just inches and one yellow flag short, Fox went to the outside, mastered that groove and walked off with the winner’s trophy.
In addition to the victor’s check of $1,100, Fox earned 50 points, the standard set by NASCAR for its Whelen All-American Weekly Racing Series.

The system, which has been in effect since 1982, drops by two points in each descending position. Anyone who is 25th or worse (if that many cars start a feature), earns two points.

There is little weight added for either winning a race, leading a race or leading the most laps.

That’s exactly what NASCAR does for its upper echelons. The difference between winning and finishing second is 10 points, then it drops by five (through sixth), then by four (through 10th), finally leveling off with a three-point difference the rest of the way.

Any driver who leads a lap during a race gets five bonus points. And the driver who leads the most laps receives an additional five-point bonus.

Fox has two wins in his last three starts, but with all that work, he’s only been able to move up to 11th in points with 438.

“Yeah, I finally passed Kenny Horton and he hasn’t been racing in weeks,” Fox said. “Our bad stretch back in May and June hurt us.”

Gada and Rob Janovic Jr., remain in a tight points race, with only 14 separating them. Janovic has 800, and Gada has 786.

At this point in the season (with only four dates remaining), consistent finishes are what leads to championships. If that two-point gap was expanded to five, I’m sure that it would make for better racing as we enter September.

No one’s going to gamble late in an event when the margin is two points. If it were more, they certainly would.

Lia closing in

Although the wins haven’t come as frequently, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Donnie Lia is putting himself in a prime position to capture the first championship for long-time car owner Bob Garbarino of Mystic.

Lia, of Jerricho, N.Y., holds a 131-point lead over Ridgefield’s Todd Szegedy.

The tour heads to Martinsville, Va., for a night race Saturday before returning north for the Thompson 300 Sept. 9.

One week later, it’s off to Loudon, N.H., and then after a week off, it’s the Fall Final at Stafford.

A two-week break follows before the World Series at Thompson brings the 2007 season to a close.

Lia and Garbarino have proven to be formidable this year. A championship trophy to put in his case would obviously bring a smile to Garbarino’s face.

A long night

If you’re heading out to the Waterford Speedbowl for Saturday night’s Mogehan Sun-sponsored Double Down Shootout, expect a longer night than usual.
Along with the track’s four divisions, you’ll see the True Value Modified Tour.

Drivers will participate in a 100-lap feature which will be sandwiched between two sets of four features each for the Sportsman, Norwich Bulletin Mini-Stocks, Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, and the SK Modifieds.
Even though distances have been shortened, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.